AntonyC

It has been nearly a month since our fight with the penguin mothership. By this time our town has grown by leaps and bounds. With our first parcel sent back to Equestria the folks at EASA finally deemed it worthy to send in the colonists for further space exploration. What was once our fledgling town of only fourteen ponies rocketed up to a few hundred now. With Digi's gift of the Spawner technology we could teleport our family and friends up to this planet without the need for another spacecraft. In due time we transported several hundred volunteers to our new home in the stars. Although some didn't get the memo that the teleporter beamed them up with little warning which lead to some embarrassing yet sometimes hilarious instances of arrival. With our security team greatly expanded we could now take shifts in guarding the town gates. Not only that, I had more time to spend with my lovely wife.

I found her next to the town fountain with our best friend Ink Rose. They were going back and forth to Ink's new comic she just recently published about our adventures in the stars.

“So Antony and I- Oh hello there honey!” Kim waved to me and smiled. Her teal coat reflected off a bit of sunlight in a beautiful shimmer.

“Good morning Antony! Would you like to see what I've been drawing?” Ink invited me into the circle. I trotted on over and sat down next to them.

“Please! Do share,” I smiled to her as well and took interest at her various sketches on the page. It was of our battle with the flying saucer detailed with an action packed summary of what went on, “Oh wow, I do like it. You even got Digi's reactions right!”

The three of us chuckled. It was still early in the morning as the town square was deserted for the most part. It was only the three of us and the only others I could hazard a guess to be awake at this time would be Sky Buster and the rest of the new recruits.

“Two! Four! Six! Eight! Speed it up nuggets!” my commanding officer was hard at work trolling the new soldiers and putting them through their paces, “Come on nuggets! My gramma can march faster than you!”

“Good morning sir!” I saluted to Sky Buster and he saluted back with a smile.

“At ease soldier, you I can trust. Thunderlane you better move your ass! NCO I want you to lead the squad in the march! And don't let me catch you guys on a breather you hear or I'll have each and everyone of you on toilet scrubbing duty!” Sky Buster approached us and pointed to my wife and I, “Hey guys. I might need your help in regards of something. We picked up this not too long ago.”

“To anyone out there! This is a distress signal from Beta Castor Minoris I USCM Penal Colony! We are under attack and need backup! Coordinates: X-2898296 Y:-66499827 Code: Indignant Koala. Please! Hurry! This message repeats. To anyon-” Sky played a recording of a message broadcasted to us from the Beta sector. With our steady trade from the Floran we had enough fuel to go on some extraplanetary adventures.

“We're the closest ones to try and help them out. We haven't had any adventures in a while. What do you say guys?”

“I'm in! I've been bored to tears for the past month. Let's go kick some ass shall we sweetheart?” Kim turned to me and pecked me in the cheek.

“Well, maybe we should mind our own business and not snoop around other species issues?” she shot that wide-eyed cutesy wootsy pout at me like she always does, “Oh! Not the puppy dog pout! You know I can't resist that!”

Sky Buster giggled under his much more impressive steel armor. He took off his helmet and patted my shoulder, “What do ya say! The more allies we got the better we have out here you know!”

“I do suppose diplomacy has it's merits. Okay! I'm in too. So, who else will be in our motley group of space faring conquistadors?” I asked with an air of debonair.

“I'm waiting on Puzzle to return from his rock farming with Pinkie and the rest of their miners. However!” Sky Buster whistled to the soldiers marching on, “Attention! I would like two volunteers to come with us on an important mission. This will be a rescue operation and if you think you've got the moxie to come along then step up!”

“Sir!” a blue earth pony with short black mane steps up from the group, “Private Itzchak Coltberg sir!”

“I expected as much. Tony, I'd like you to meet Private Coltberg. He's one of my brightest recruits and will be a great asset to the team! His nickname is Rolo. Introduce yourself private!”

“Sir! It's a pleasure to meet you sir!” Rolo stood at full attention to me and saluted. I could make out his six pointed star cutie mark and bushy black tail.

“At ease soldier! Welcome to the team. My name is Major Caius Antonius Percival Degroot Canon The Third. You may address me as Major Antony though if you're so inclined,” I saluted back to him and gave him a pat on the back.

“So! Anypony else?” Sky turned back to the group as one of the others jumped up and fell face first to the floor, “Okay! You, Private Dawn Shy! Get over here!”

“Um, sir?” The stallion looked up from his tipped over posture. His dirty blond mane drooped into his eyes and his dark blue-grey coat was covered with mud.

“Don't you um sir me! You need the tactical training private!” Sky barked his orders like a good drill sergeant, “Why don't you take an example from Private Coltberg nugget!”

He took off Dawn Shy's necklace and found a locket of whom I assumed was his girlfriend.

“This your lover Private?”

“Sir! Yes sir!” He jumped back up at attention and was sweating in fear.

Sky Buster smirked and gave the locket to Rolo, “Private Coltberg! Go into the bathroom and have some fun with that!”

Rolo recoiled his head back and reluctantly spoke, “Sir, yes sir...”

“If you'll excuse me I need to find Puzzle and the mining crew. They should be back by now,” Sky flew off to the west where our mineshaft was located. I saw Rolo give the locket back to Dawn. Admittedly a strange name for a unicorn stallion.

“Don't worry friend. I won't violate your relationship.”

“Oh hey, thanks a lot,” DS dusted off his locket and placed it back into his pocket.

“Ahem, officers on deck?” Rolo poked DS to get him back to his feet.

“Oh-right! Yes um! Private Doen Sh-I MEAN! Private Dawn Sho! I-I'm so sorry Major! I-”

“Sit down shut up Private,” my wife placed a hoof on him to calm him, “At ease soldier you'll do fine. Hopefully.”

“This was all well and fun but I think I gotta go sketch some more of my comics for later. See you around Kim and Antony!” Ink Rose departed back to her dwelling with a soft flutter of her wings.

“Well then, before we go let's get you something to eat. It looks like Sky Buster hasn't given you two much of a break huh?” I gathered the two ponies accompanying us while the rest of their squad kept on with the days training.

“Yes sir, but the training is serving to condition us for what lies ahead. I am no stranger to war Major,” Rolo kept pace but Dawn Shy was lagging behind.

“Yo! You gonna pass out back there?” Kim turned back to our least coordinated operative.

“Ha, no I-I” once again he fell face first into the dirt. It seemed that he was lacking sleep as he snored with his butt stuck into the air. Kim slid her face into her hoof, “Nuggets I tell you. I was never that guy.”

“No, but I was. He reminds me a lot about when I first went through training,” I lifted him onto my back and carried him the rest of the way, “Sky Buster was never the easy drill instructor.”

“I remember one time where he made a grunt eat a bag of dick shaped macaroni. He's quite creative with his training that's for sure,” Kim rolled her eyes at the funny memory. I couldn't help but laugh along as well.

“And that time where he left his tail gunner hanging upside down in his parachute harness from tripping out of the door upon landing like a moron? That was classic!” my wife and I went back and worth, “He even puked on himself for good measure during the flight back.”

“Oh yeah, he's a crazy ass pilot. I remember that time were I rode with him as he landed a plane backwards,” she shook her head with a smirk.

“Oh I do remember that! He damn well tricked us both huh?”

“Oh yeah. Thank Celestia Crowne Prince bitch slapped him with a boatload of karma huh?”

“Oh yes, Miss 'I'm a guy, you're a guy, everypony's a guy' act,” I sighed in delight, “good times!”

“So now that we're done being idiots shouldn't we be gearing up the nuggets?” she put her face to mine and squeezed my cheeks. And not those cheeks you crazy naughty shippers you!

“Well we'll need to prod around in Mister Sky Buster's humble abode for the armory so well why not!” we trotted on to Sky's house and carefully navigated to the back. His shed was more of a bunker that housed all of our important weapons for missions and whatnot. The only thing we really used them for was to control the varmints that plagued the deep mining tunnels of our colony. Once fully equipped like some extraterrestrial fighting covert operatives with our brilliant steel and silver armor we set back to the town square as the miners rolled in with their haul of mineral wealth and riches. They were all rather tired with the two exceptions of Pinkie Pie and Puzzle Piece. Sky Buster was among them as well and they had some rather odd pieces of clothing.

“Hey guys! Look what Puzzle found inside a chest for me! It's an old human military helmet from their second world war! I think I'll keep it,” Sky knocked on his noggin and the helmet made a distinctive ping. I noticed Puzzle and Pinkie wore some type of lantern on a stick strapped to their backs.

“Good morning to you sir Puzzle Piece! Any good news with the rock farming?”

“Same as always,” he smiled and his eyes turned to Pinkie, “But I do have some other great news! We can talk about it over some brunch.”

We were invited to brunch at their house near the center of town. Pinkie had baked us a whole bunch of cupcakes and other vegetarian foodstuffs. Of course our commanding officer Sky Buster was not content unless he had meat in his diet. He had stashed some rations in his pockets and shared them with Rolo and DS. It was then that I noticed Pinkie's pet alligator chilling in a pond dug at the back of the house. The reptilian beast submerged back into the murky water as Dawn Shy sat down to view the pond.

“Nice pond you guys hav-OH MY CELESTIA!” I turned back to see him startled to the toothless gator that managed to engulf his entire head. Now that I think about it that thing has grown a lot bigger since my first introduction, “AAAHHHHHHHHHH!”

The rest of us didn't panic but Rolo leaped into action. He was stopped by Sky Buster who couldn't stop laughing that the unfortunate victim of toothless alligator.

“Private, just take note: never encroach on a prankster toothless alligator, or any alligator for that matter.”

“Sir, that thing is... Toothless?” Rolo looked back and forth at the panicking pony trying to hilariously dislodge the giant reptile off his face. I laughed along but at the same time felt sorry for the young soldier.

“Yes private, let's just see how long it takes for him to assess that there is no threat.”

Finally after running in circles for a good minute or so Dawn Shy finally comes to grips that the scaly gator posed no threat to his well being. With a gentle tickling from Pinkie Pie the alligator dropped off Dawn's face and he breathed in some fresh air.

“Why in the world do you keep that thing?!” his mane was wet with drool and smelled of rotted meat.

“Because Gummy's oh so super duper awesome and playful and fun to talk to! Aren't you just the cutest space alligator in the universe?” Pinkie hugged Gummy and the gator simply looked off blankly in the distance, “I love you too! And guess what, you're gonna have a new playmate coming!”

“A playmate?” Sky turned to Puzzle, “Oh! Have we finally domesticated the Scythetails with the help of Twilight and Fluttershy?”

“Well yes, there's two of them in the pond. That one on the right is Taffy and the other one is Walrus. It seems that they like Boneboo and Gummy has taken a liking to it as well,” Puzzle took a bite from his hay burger and eyed the two other beasts emerge from the waters edge. Pinkie tossed in some of those strange fleshy meat-fruits into the water and they happily consumed it with one gulp. Puzzle continued, “That's not what she was talking about though. You've heard that Twilight is conducting tests and experiments regarding the colony right?”

“Yes, and?” Sky Buster downed his can of preserved meat and stuffed a hay burger into his mouth.

“Oh! She's been experimenting with all these new types of kooky experiments like genetics, messing around with these new super duper plants and flowers, and those trees that tasted like potatoes, and I also heard her talking about making a banana!” Pinkie went on with her usual fast paced and often jumbled explanations.

“So, that only leaves-” Buster trailed off and he smiled to Puzzle, “No way! You two?”

“Yup. I'm going to be a father,” Puzzle smirked and wrapped his arm around Buster with a firm pat on the shoulder, “Pinkie and I, well mostly Pinkie, volunteered to test how embryonic development would occur on this planet. It's only been a month and Twilight is keeping tabs on us every week to make sure the foal is gonna be okay.”

“Dude, congrats! If this experiment goes well maybe Dashie and I will have our kid next,” Sky clapped his hooves and we all congratulated sir Puzzle.

“Sir! Are we ready to proceed with the mission to the Beta sector?” Rolo turned his attention to Sky.

“Yes we are recruit! Puzzle, we'll need your help on this mission to rescue some humans in danger. I hope you don't mind Pinkie.”

“Nope! Not a problem at all!” she gave Puzzle a hug and pecked him on the cheek, “Come back home safe okay?”

“I will, for you and the baby,” Puzzle returned with his own hug and a gentle rub of Pinkie's belly. I was also entertained to the idea of finally settling down with Kim to start a family.

“We'll take my ship. Tony Pony, you wanna be co-pilot?” Buster smirked to me and held out his hoof.

“Of course good lad! HMM! BROHOOF!” I gave him the mightiest of brohoofs and he was knocked back a few feet and splashed into the pond. He emerged with Gummy biting his foot and threw his forehooves into the air.

“WOO! Let's roll!”

The airfield was only a short trot away near the outskirts of town. What used to just be a grass parking lot for our ships became a full fledged spaceport with flights from Equestria that brought in supplies and volunteers every month. We all piled into the commander's ship and I took my place as the co-pilot.

“Alright everypony, are we all geared up and ready for adventure?” I turned to my friends as they strapped into their seats.

“And exactly who is armed with what? Can you guys give me a quick loadout for each of you?” Sky turned to them as well as they donned their armor and equipment.

“I've got a sniper rifle, target finder, and iron armor on. Gotta say this looks great Sky!” Kim smiled to our squad leader.

“Oh don't thank me, that was made by the engineering team. Notice how it's custom fit, not even I could do that. Puzzle what about you?”

“I honestly prefer my bow. Do I have to use this sniper rifle?”

“Yes you do, I want you to get some training done with that thing. I see you got a nano-fiber vest! Good on you,” Sky fiddled around with the preflight checks and switches before radioing out to the control tower, “Control tower this is Big Sky! We're taking off for the beta sector!”

“Read you loud and clear Big Sky you are cleared for takeoff!”

“Roger that tower see you in a few hours!” Sky disengaged the radio as we rocketed into outer space.

With the coordinates punched into the navigation console the ship did its thing and jumped past light speed. With the swirling stars turning into blurs and streaks of light the ship maintained stable in hyperspace before coming to a halt as it bled off speed. The autopilot kicked in and leveled the ship with the planets orbit. We all looked outside to see the lush green planet beneath us.

“Alright, we're in position and ready to beam down. We do it altogether now!” Sky Buster put a hoof to his transponder and waited for us to do the same, “We don't know what we're gonna find down there so heads up and keep a sharp eye! Let's go!”

Our concentrated balls of energy shot up and out of the ship to materialize us on the surface of the planet. We touched down in a low valley of this hot and humid jungle world. To the west was a large tree with vines that crawled up and around its trunk and all around us were plants that lined the forest floor. Something did stink rather badly behind us and it came from one of the large flowers next to a tiny pixel capsule left by another interstellar pilgrim.

“Oh look! It's a rafflesia,” Buster looked on at the large and awfully stinky flower as he donned a gas mask, “I remember these things. They grow in the Fillypines and have the largest known flower of any plant back home.”

“Good grief! It smells like something died in there,” my wife shuddered as she tried to pinch her nose shut with two hooves. I lead her away from it and we sat down next to a more fragrant vine that bloomed with a brilliant white flower.

“I hope that's better my love. Sir! Shall we scout ahead?”

“Roger that Tony! Looks like Dawny got himself stuck on some vines. And be careful what you touch! You never know what plants could be poisonous,” Sky advised to all of us.

“It's a good thing we all brought our manipulators. The scanners on this are sure quite helpful,” I bought out my matter manipulator and picked the flower off the vine for my wife. It was a harmless little thing with five petals in the shape of diamonds. I placed it into her crest pocket and nuzzled her neck, “Shall we madam?”

“Oh hush Antony,” she trotted on to the tree and beckoned, “Well come on!”

“I'm keeping close miss KP. Oh hello!” we stopped at the opening of a large cavern that was right past the tree. One could have easily fallen into it had they not been paying attention. I took a moment to warn the group, “There's a big hole here! You might want to go around it!”

“Copy that! We'll catch up! Radio back if you find anything else!” Buster was hacking away at the vines DS was caught in with a bolo knife, “Okay Dawn Shy! Don't squirm or I might miss!”

I rather enjoyed my commanders sick sense of humor. I gave a smile as Kim and I scouted on deeper into the jungle. The ground was thick with vegetation and we hacked our way on with our own sharp iron short swords through the brush and foliage. A few minutes of hacking and slashing brought us to another clearing with a small Floran hut halfway between the insertion point and the location of the distress call. Kim and I held back.

“Colonel! Come in this is Kim,” she sighted in with her sniper rifle and I scoped in with my binoculars as well, “There's a Floran hut I've marked on your map between the drop point and the objective. What do you want us to do?”

“Approach carefully and have one tongue, hoof, wing-whatever on the trigger. Engage only if you are fired upon got it?”

“Yes sir,” Kim went to prone and called to me, “Honey, can you go over there and see what's up? I'll cover you from here. You know I don't miss easily.”

She gave me a wink and I gave her a nod. I went on slowly as I made contact with the hut.

“Hello and good tidings to anyone in there! I come in peace,” I knocked on the door and was greeted by a dark brown Floran man.

“Hello there. I don't usually get visitors. I'm Hunter Flytrap of the Alpha Velocia Tribe. I've been stranded on this planet for a week now. Are you here because of the prison?” he looked at me with curious big, black eyes. He spoke more like a human than a Floran.

“Well, that's on a need to know basis. Classified intel I'm afraid,” I wasn't hesitant to keep our plans under wraps.

“Well don't go there. The place went quiet a few days ago. I had some human friends who worked there but they're all dead as far as I know. Something else isn't quite right either. I can't beam up to my ship anymore and I fear that someone sabotaged it. And exactly who and what are you?”

“I am Major Antonius Percival Degroot Canon The Third! And I am an earth pony good sir. I do thank you for not stabbing me on sight,” I bowed in respect to this gentleman.

“I don't think you're from Earth. If you were a horse from Earth you wouldn't be talking,” he opened his door all the way and crossed his arms in disbelief.

“Oh no, you misunderstand. I meant earth as in dirt and not Earth the planet. I am a humble pony of the ground, thank you,” I explained further, “And horses on my world are like monkeys to humans. Pardon, but didn't you say that you come from Alpha Velocia?”

“Hmph? You know of it?” his eyes widened and the one leaf that served as one of his eyebrows lifted.

“That is where our colony resides. And by my guess you must be related to the shop keep of the village am I right?”

“Yes! I'm his brother! Please, you have to take me back home! I'll put in a good word for you when I get back to the village!” his face was filled with hope and he went down to his knees to my eye level.

“Consider it done. Come with us, we may need your help on the prison then.”

“I said you shouldn't go there. That place is a death trap,” he got back up and paced the room, “Some freaky stuff went on and I haven't even got past the Flamengators.”

“Flamen-what?” I recoiled back, confused.

“They are white alligator like aliens that breath fire,” he shuddered, “Still a Floran! I hate fire and being burned!”

“Well rest assured we have the finest warriors my planet has to offer on this mission! We are here to spread good word for all of ponykind,” I brought him outside and waved for Kim to come closer, “This is my wife, Kim. She is our sniper and the top spy pony in all of Equestria.”

“Hey, what's up?” she was nonchalant about the Floran.

“Pleasure to meet you. Is that the rest of your squad up on that hill?”

I turned to see the four others eying the area. Sky Buster flew over to me and took off his gas mask.

“Major! Report!”

“Sir, this Floran can help us with the layout of the prison. He is also from the same planet as our colony and would like a safe return back in exchange for his services.”

Buster smiled and looked to the Floran. He looked back at me, “Good work Tony! Here, arm yourself with this Mr. Floran.”

“Um, this is just a knife,” he examined the tiny dagger.

“Yes, yes it is. Don't try anything funny you hear. My race had some pretty bad first encounters with your kind and I'm not so eager to trust any strange plant man I see. Got it?”

Flytrap sighed, “Damn my race. I fully understand. You're not the only one to suffer at the hands of us Floran. I apologize for all that we did to you.”

Sky Buster held back his anger and let out a deep sigh, “Alright, Puzzle! Looks like you're gonna use your bow after all. Give me your pistol.”

“Yay!” Puzzle gave a soft cheer, “Thank you sir!”

“And by the way. Tony, since you're the one who found him I suggest you keep a close eye on him. If he endangers anypony, anypony at all. Shoot him dead.”

“I-Yes sir...”

The rest of the group went on was Kim and I stood by our Floran friend.

“He really hates us huh?”

“What? No Flytrap, he's-” I struggled to find the right words, “racist at times. Our commander isn't the one to let things go after the trauma he experienced.”

“Again, I fully understand the gravity of it. I wish my race was like the humans, all helpful instead of hurtful. Constructive rather than destructive. And above all understanding and wise, not like the savage and pitiful excuse that my people have always been. I was lucky at my brother and I were raised by humans.”

We all stopped at the sight of an odd one eyed plump creature that waddled around on four flippers.

“Oh, don't mind those. We call them Stalkeyes and they're rather passive herbivores. I say rather passive because as you can see, I'm a plant. Funny, one of those was trying to eat me while I was sleeping on the roof of my house one time,” Flytrap chuckled as proceeded on. Sky Buster shot right next to his foot.

“And WHO gave you the permission to step out of line?”

“I-I'm sorry! Please, calm down,” Flytrap held his hands up high.

“You know how much I can't stand the sight of you bastards?”

“Sir! Let it go!” Kim came forward to stop him.

“If you don't mind, we still have a mission to complete,” Puzzle added. I was hoping his soft voice was help to defuse the situation.

Sky was holding back his anger, “You win this round Floran! And don't go running off.”

“I promise I won't,” Flytrap stepped back and fell in line. I began to question my CO's reactions. Suddenly Flytrap whipped his pistol up at two white gators that fell from the top of the mountain we were about to climb, “Pull back! Pull back! They shoot fire!”

“Engage!” Buster opened up with a shotgun blast that knocked one of the Flamengators back. The other regurgitated out a long stream of flame that burned at the forest around us, “Kim! Puzzle! Some sniper fire would be nice!”

Two shots rang out and killed one of the gators with well placed headshots. The wounded Flamengator stumbled back to its feet and waved another stream of hellfire at our commander. He managed to evade the blast with only a spot of singed fur. Flytrap took the opportunity to rush in and stab right into the underbelly of the beast with his dagger. He threw the alien off to the side and wiped his knife clean.

“Clear!” I yelled to the group.

“Confirmed clear!” Kim scanned our surroundings now engulfed with fire.

“Go! Go around the fire and back up the mountain! Let's not dilly dally!” Sky Buster signaled and we followed his lead.

Before long we stumbled upon a cave near the top of the mountain. Kim and I took point and we found a treasure chest at the mouth of the cave. She flew in gently and starred at the container.

“Ooo! Finders keepers!” she rummaged inside and presented us with her findings, “Bunch of pixels, a block of coal, an anvil, and what the heck is this thing?”

“Oh that,” Flytrap crested the entrance of the cave, “That's a Blue Stim Pack. You'll be able to jump really high with that stuff.”

“Well I guess I'll take it,” Kim placed the useful items in her pockets while storing the chest and anvil in the quantum storage of her matter manipulator. We continued our way up the mountain and found another oddity that looked like a very large rotating pixel capsule. We stood back before Flytrap explained again.

“That's a status pod. I suggest you avoid those unless you're in a pinch. They could be useful or some can be traps. You'll never know until you try-”

“YOLO!” Dawn Shy touched the pod and was engulfed in a green cloud of vapor. I wholly expected his bout of crape diem for the stupid to result in a rather misfortunate accident. Instead he was gifted with the a boost in speed, “Hoo! Look at me! I can shuffle my legs around really fast!”

“Rookie, I don't need you to piss me off even more you know that right?” Sky Buster slapped his hoof into his face.

“Yes sir, but think about it this way. I should have this for the rest of the mission. I think. You yourself told me that the highest risk yields the best reward,” Dawn Shy made his point.

“Hm, there might be some hope for you after all. Okay soldier, good call for now. But do that again and I will have you scrubbing the barracks toilets with your toothbrush. Got it?”

“Yes sir!” DS saluted and crested the edge of the mountain, “Sir, I've found the prison.”

As we all took a view from the top of the ridge we could see a large complex surrounded by barbed wire, chain link fence, and fortifications. It was a harden stone and brick structure that imposed a gritty and impressive aura. Something about it was quite off though but I couldn't place a hoof on it.

“Alright. KP, Puzzle, scope it out,” Buster addressed to our snipers.

“That place looks abandoned. There's no one in the guard towers and the entrance looked like it was blown open,” my wife whispered to our commander.

“Confirmed, there's no one down there. Wait! I've got movement,” Puzzle turned his attention to the second guard tower. I could see it for myself: there was a tiny dot of orange that slowly darted at the top of the tower with the broken searchlight. I investigated further with my binoculars and saw that the figure was human and female. She was armed with a strange energy pistol and was clad in bright orange.

“She doesn't look military, nor friendly for that matter,” I advised to Sky Buster.

“Nope, looks like humans have some funny looking prison outfits for their inmates. Guess we know what's up. Come on, let's see if there are any survivors.”

The commander lead us on. A short trot later and we were at the gate of the building.

“USCM Penal Colony,” Buster read out the cleverly placed sign at the entrance to the facility and chuckled, “Penal. Ahem! Okay I want everypony in combat mode and weapons ready. Be prepared for the unexpected. Stack up on the door.”

We all drew our primary firearms and stacked up on the sliding metal door past the tunnel of chain link fence. I took my 5mm assault carbine in my mouth and waited as we prepared to breach silently. The commander at the control panel with a shotgun held in his wings.

“Breaching,” the door slid open with a pressurized hiss. Sky was the first to go in and clear the room, “Clear, looks overgrown with foliage.”

“After only a week? That's not natural for plants around here,” Flytrap commented, “Yes, these were genetically engineered.”

“Scans show no airborne toxins,” Rolo probed the air with his manipulator.

“Good, keep going. I've got this corner,” we opened the first barred door and cleared the lobby of the prison. There was a human lady sitting on one of the benches next to a cola machine with a rather large axe and spiked metallic armor. She recoiled at first but started coming closer with malice in her expression. Sky Buster yelled to her, “Hey! Get back! Get the fuck back or we'll blow your brains out!”

“M-Must-Kill,” she twitched and continued on with her suicidal attack.

“Open fire!” Buster ordered and all of us, including Flytrap, brought down the crazed human with a hail of gunfire. Flytrap stepped forward and examined the body.

“This is strange,” he patted down the body and found something dead on her skull. He turned to us and presented a grotesques insectoid creature that was latched on to the back of her head, “This looks like a Chryssalid. But it isn't any Chryssalid I've ever seen.”

“That thing is disgusting. What the fuck is it?” Sky Buster approached with curiosity and caution at the twitching corpse of the blue alien parasite held in Flytrap's hand.

“This is a Chryssalid. It's a large parasitic insect that can be used as a biological weapon. Namely because it can reproduce and kill at an alarming rate. That and its method of procreation involves it laying an egg into your dead body and having a newborn, and very deadly, hatchling ready within a few minutes after you've become a zombie. This one is different though, it seems to control its host with high cognitive function.”

“Wait, okay. I'll admit it: I'm a little scared now. But who would use these as a biological weapon?” Buster poked the insect and it twitched, “What the fuck! Kill it!”

“Calm down! It twitches like this even when dead. The only race I know of that uses these as weapons are the Apex. Humans have them as pets and livestock though after their planet was invaded by the Ethereals.”

“These things are pets? Good goddess, humans are weird. But, do they taste like crab?” Sky scanned the insect and found it to be mostly edible to ponies, except for the venomous glads at the claws, “Well, it is edible.”

“Might as well,” Flytrap messily ate the insect and we could hear the crunch of exoskeleton in his maw. He gave a satisfied gulp and belch as he wiped the green goo off his face, “Yup, tastes like shellfish alright.”

My wife turned to the corner and vomited. Puzzle somehow became even more green and sickly to the sight and upchucked as well.

“I'm keeping her axe though,” Flytrap took the dead womans weapon and read the inscription engraved onto it, “Precious Stardude.”

“Okay, let's focus people. There are stairs to the upper level here. Kim, why don't you throw a battle scanner up there!”

“Okay,” my wife pulled a motion sensor from her pocket and threw it up the stairs, “Scanner is active! I got something up there!”

“Okay! Tony, Dawn Shy with me! Run and gun up there!” the commander and DS ran up to the security office upstairs and brought down another inmate with shotgun and SMG fire. I was the last to crest up and saw them looking at the dead body, “We got another! Chryssalid got this one too!”

The tiny bug did a high pitched squeal of agony as Sky crunched it down with an iron horseshoe, “Die die die! Rot in hell! Die!”

“Oh look, I found a Holy Fishcutter,” Dawny took the inmates knife, “I'm storing that in my manipulator.”

“Um, commander. I think you should check this out,” Rolo came through on the radio as we went down the stairs, “There's an egg here!”

Flytrap shot it open and a gooey embryonic Chryssalid popped out only to die a few seconds later. He stored its meat in his bag and came back to the group, “Shoot those on sight.”

“Point taken, you're not so bad afterall,” Sky Buster patted his shoulder and went on, “Let's go and find out what happened.”

As we entered the next wing of the prison we came under fire from another inmate. She was on the top flight of stairs of this guard tower and was firing down upon us with an assault rifle. We dashed back into the lobby and took cover behind the desks.

“Everyone on overwatch! If anything comes through that door it dies!”

“Roger sir, on overwatch,” Rolo deployed the bipod of his machine gun.

“Overwatch confirmed,” Kim was right next to me. We both watched the door with our rifles.

“Sir! If I may, I might be able to lure them down,” Dawny turned to our squad leader.

“How so?” he spoke without taking his .357 magnum off the door.

“I'm a story teller pony, my spells help with depicting scenes, casting 3D images, and making noises happen without sources. I can enchant this rock to serve as a mimic beacon but I can only do that twice per day.”

“Make it happen! Throw it at the door and lure them into the kill zone.”

“Roger sir! Mimic beacon out!” I saw the rock fly past me and roll into the door frame. The human went down to investigate and was cut down by our gunfire. Two more tried to run into the lobby and we gunned them down as well. We ceased our fire and advanced up the stairs to clear out the first wing of the prison.

“Looks clear! I'll set up shop up here. Provide me with some squad sight as you advance will you?”

“Got it Kim, Puzzle you're a better snapshot so stick with the group. That's odd, looks like her rifle was destroyed,” Buster picked up the remains of the weapon and placed it in his manipulator.

“It's bound to the user. If they die then the weapon is unrecoverable. Safety measure of the prison and it looks like the rifle was offline when this prison was raided,” it was comforting that Flytrap had a keen sense of observation.

We entered the courtyard of the first wing and we stood frozen. The whole area was covered in eggs and fleshy strands of Chryssalid goo. Sky Buster yelled at the top of his lungs.

“OPEN FIRE!”

We all filled the area with bullets as we tried to kill all of the unhatched eggs. They started to burst open and groups of their mothers rushed out into the courtyard from the second wing of the prison. They were much larger than any pony or human I've seen and scurried about on four clawed legs. They were blue in color and had back spikes with a bioluminescent yellow glow. There were a lot of them and we were all scared.

“NO Celestia! I don't want to die!” Dawn Shy panicked and blindly fired at an already wounded Chryssalid that was about to strike Sky Buster. This freed our commander to fall back into the lobby.

“Suck it up Dawn Shy! You just saved my ass back there!” He was trying to coax him out of his panic as I kept up my rifle suppression onto our enemies, “Fall back! Fall back!”

He grabbed DS by the collar and dragged him away further back into the lobby. The horde was thinned to a much more manageable level but I felt in my gut that something wasn't right. It was at that moment I heard my wife scream from upstairs.

“KIM!” I jumped up and rushed the flight of stairs through the fire of my squad. I didn't care that I was getting into the line of fire. Kim was hurt, or worse. Upon coming up to the top level I saw a Chryssalid that was ready to implant its proboscis into her now limp body. With all the fury in my heart I emptied the mag of my rifle and for good measure I bucked it off the side of the tower as it fell to its death. I held onto my wife and stroked her blood soaked auburn mane, “Kim! Kim it's me! I'm here.”

She was heavily lacerated and bleeding profusely. I went to work with my medical kit.

“T-Tony...” She coughed out a bit of blood, “You s-saved me.”

“Shh, save your strength. You're gonna be fine,” I was able to stabilize her condition and her bleeding stopped with the advanced nanosutures and high-potency stimulants derived from those red stim packs. I cleaned up her mane and tail and noticed the flower still untouched in her tactical rig pocket. I picked it up and carefully tucked it behind her ear with a gentle caress of her face, “I was so scared I lost you.”

“Thank you,” I heard her whimper as I held her close to me. I could hear something else coming up the stairs.

“Get away from her you bitches!” I readied my rifle with another magazine of bullets and shot two bullets at the top of the stairs. My heart sank into the sweet euphoria of relief as I heard my commanders voice.

“It's me! It's me! Tony what the fuck happened?”

“We're down a sniper. You've cleared the courtyard right?”

“Yes, is your wife okay?!” Buster put a hoof to my shoulder and looked back.

“Yes, she's critically wounded but I managed to stabilize her. What do we do from here?” I sighed to catch my breath.

“First we get her to safety,” he trotted over to my wife and bent down, “Hey Kim, it's Sky Buster. Don't panic okay? I'm gonna beam you up back to the ship so don't think you're dead just yet.”

“R-Roger. Keep Tony safe,” her voice was barely audible as she mumbled to Buster.

“I will,” he shook my wifes limp hoof and pressed the button on her transponder to beam her back into the ship. Her teal energetic aura beamed up into the heavens and twinkled as it disappeared. I held one hoof into the air and thought about our situation, “Press on. We have to find out what happened.”

“Sir! If I may-” Sky cut me off.

“I don't want to hear it Tony. Right now we need to do the right thing and find out exactly what happened! That distress beacon is still active and at the other end of the facility. If we don't find answers we'll have come here for nothing.”

“And risk the lives of all our soldiers?! Sir, please think about what we are doing!”

“Tony! We're still in good shape. Everypony else is unhurt and we've got Flytrap down there being a great asset and ally. We can still complete the mission. Don't go soft on me Tony, we've been through worse.”

I sighed again, “You've made your point. Sorry, that was just nervous jitters.”

I didn't expect a full bro hug from my commander, “Hey, I almost lost my wife too remember? Not only that but all of you, my soldiers, are my family now. You're like my brother AC and I wouldn't endanger your life or anyone under my command.”

I needed that reminder. He was my friend and brother, “Thank you sir!”

“Anytime bro,” he held out his hoof and I returned with another brohoof. We smiled and trotted back down into the lobby as the rest of the squad recovered the bodies, “Alright! Let's move up. You guys all good on ammo?”

“Yes sir. We've still got plenty!” Rolo reported in. We made our way to the second wing of the prison. There was one egg on the floor and Sky filled it with buckshot from his shotgun. This attracted another infected inmate to rush at us with a spear primed to stab.

“KILL!” she screeched as we filled her full of holes. We recovered her pike and pressed on to the main holding cells of the prison. We were ambushed by another three humans and one of them was using a plasma pistol.

“Keep your heads down and put some fire on those melee inmates! Rolo throw a frag grenade up there and blow em to bits!”

“Yes sir!” he primed the apple shaped grenade and cooked it to explode in mid air right in between the three humans. It knocked them back and the platform supporting the shooter gave way and she fell to her death. The Chryssalid controlling her hopped off and scurried into a vent before I could give it a burst from my rifle.

“Damn! I hope that thing doesn't come back.”

“Just focus on the last two prisoners Tony. I got your back,” Sky was quick to cover me with a well placed shotgun shell at my attacker, “Booyah! Chalk up another.”

“Help! Help is anyone out there! Save me!” we heard a voice from further up stairs. We rushed up to one of the cells that held one of the surviving female guards, “I don't care who or what you are! You're here to help right?”

“Yes! What the hell happened here?” Buster stood near the barred cell door.

“I've been stuck in here for days now! The whole prison's overrun with those fuckers and we were attacked by-” something from behind the crates jumped onto the back of their skull and latched into their spine, “AAARRRRGGGHH! HELP ME!”

Sky blew the door open with blasts from his shotgun and shot the survivor right in the head, “I'm sorry! I couldn't save you!”

“He's right. That thing latched onto the spine. Even if we did shoot it off them they'd be paralyzed and in agony for life,” Flytrap examined the body, “Here, she left us a gun.”

“And a whole bunch of supplies in the crates! Tony take a look at this. Red, blue, and yellow stim packs and forty pixels in this large crate. I suggest you carry the red one. Everypony these grab the rest and don't be afraid to use them if need be.”

“Roger squad lead,” Dawn Shy swiped a green one and gave himself another speed boost, “Hell, it's the same shade of green as the status pod. I was beginning to wear that boost out.”

“I found ten copper ingots and six pixels in this one!” Puzzle rummaged through a crate stacked on the large one, “Looks like the empty ones had food in them and our dead friend ate it all. Is there anymore survivors do you think?”

“That distress beacon is still active and my preliminary scan shows one guy still alive at the far end of the prison. We have to rescue them! Sniper fire get down!”

We took another shot from the higher level of the base. Sky took a hit and his left wing was wounded.

“Fuck! I'm hit hard! AGGGH! Holy shit my wing!” I rushed to his side and looked at the damage. His wing was ready to fall off.

“Hold still! I'm blowing away the red stim pack on you,” I plunged the needle into the root of his broken wing and shifted the limb into place. The advanced medicine of the syringe managed to mend the wing and it was back in place. There was still an open gash where the seem was but that had stopped bleeding. All the while Buster screamed in pain.

“MOTHERFUCKER THAT HURTS! Phew! Thanks to you I can feel my wing again,” Sky patted me on the shoulder and returned fire.

“Anytime pal!” I downed the next inmate and we brought the body count plus three, “We're cleared!”

“Sir, looks like this is a surveillance room,” Dawn came down from one of the many flights of stairs and reported to where he was prodding at.

“Let me see,” Sky lead the way for all of us to pile into the room, “You're right and check this out.”

He pointed to one of the screens to see the sole survivor of the prison. A guard in blue digital camo much like what Troy wore.

“He's USCM. Take a look at this view,” Flytrap pointed to another screen of the same room, “He doesn't have one latched onto him! We have to save him.”

“Alright, we got a confirmed location now. Let's move!”

“Stop for a second,” Puzzle investigated the top most floor and came back down, “I think you might want this Sky!”

“What is it?” Puzzle tossed him an ice cold can of that one human soda, Dr. Pepper it was called, “Oh my Celestia! I haven't had one of these in over a month! Aw dude, Puzzle thanks!”

“You could use it, there's a cola machine full of them up here,” Puzzle pointed up as Sky took a big gulp from the can. As Puzzle finished his sentence Buster nearly spat his mouthful out before recoiling to look at the can. He drank the remainder of his drink and crushed the can.

“We are taking that cola machine,” Sky turned to us with a look of determination in his eyes.

“The whole cola machine sir?”

“Yes Rolo! THE WHOLE DAMN SODA MACHINE!” he exclaimed with wide eyes and stuffed the whole thing into his matter manipulator, drinks and all.

The more I stared at the walls the more I noticed the graffiti. All of which held disturbing text. Turn back, there is no escape, and get out blanketed the walls and gave the prison an even heavier glow. The dark hallways and lack of light sources didn't help either and at least we were doing this during the day. We entered the next room. It was a workshop that held a few more crates. Buster couldn't resist taking a good look.

“Puzzle, let's clear out these crates for anything useful. Tony, Rolo, DS you guys Watch the unopened door,” he began to forcibly unlock each one with his shotgun while Puzzle took a more subtle approach with his bobby pins, “I got some unrefined wood here. Probably using these for their barrel fires.”

“I got something over here! One blue and yellow stim pack and forty pixels!” Puzzle placed them into his pockets and continued to look.

“Haha! Blue and red over here with sixty five pixels!” Buster threw the encased red stim pack to me, “Present for you Tony!”

“Thank you!” I tucked that away and continued to watch the door.

“Two more! One red and yellow with fifteen bits of cash!” Puzzle was on a roll, “I'll save this red one just in case.”

“Good job! Next room everypony,” we stacked up again and Sky was the first to breach, “Breaching! Two contacts spotted!”

One prisoner and one guard. The guard had a sniper rifle and took cover behind a desk. Meanwhile the prisoner charged at us with a spear. She was brought down by Sky Buster slam firing his shotgun with two shells of buckshot. The noise of which aggroed two more guards sniping from the guard post of this mess hall. We all took to the nearest cover we could find.

“Two more contacts! Dammit they got the high ground! Rolo it's time to fire a rocket! Take down that sniper nest!”

“Yes sir!” Rolo tossed his LMG to his back and primed the recoilless weapon in his hooves, “How's this on for size!”

The rocket made a brilliant fireball that took out most of the sniper nest and knocked the two guards to our level. Surprisingly Dawny was able to close in on the first sniper and pump his SMG into the bugger without so much as a scratch. I was quite amazed at this rookie.

“Nice shot Rolo!” Buster drew the overwatch of the two fallen snipers with his lightning fast reflexes, “I drew their fire! Hit em hard!”

I leveled my sights to one of the wounded guards and fired. My weapon gave a silent click and no report. The sniper I was trained onto leveled their sights onto me and fired. I took a hit right in the shoulder and was knocked to the ground. I felt my shoulder blade shatter at the sheer velocity of the sniper round that exploded inside of me with a burning sharp pain that felt all too familiar. I rolled to see my assailant get an arrow in the knee followed by a shotgun to the face from Puzzle and Sky Buster respectfully.

“Tony's wounded! Puzzle you gotta help him!”

“Roger that sir!” I could hear my friend's hooves clatter along the stone floor to me. I felt another rush of pain mixed with adrenaline as I felt my bones shift and combine into their rightful place. I was quite happy now that we took a moment to search for these much needed items, “You okay Antony?!”

“I'm good and back in the game. Thank you sir Puzzle!” I got right back up and gave him a firm pat.

“I've got your back too you know. You want us to stack up again on that door Sky?”

“Negative, Dawny flip these tables and make some cover. I want a half circle of tables surrounding the door. Everyone get into position and we're gonna toss another mimic beacon at the fatal funnel.”

“Roger, does this prison have a pool I can flip?” Dawn Shy began to turn them over. Sky gave a chuckle.

“Dammit Crowne Prince. I'll never live that down,” we all got behind our cover and overwatched the door, “Just throw the damned rock!”

“Mimic beacon out,” DS plinked another screaming rock at the foot of the door.

“Two guys coming through! Inmate and guard gun em down!”

“More coming in! There's so many of them!” Puzzle could see past the two with more of their buddies coming to the door.

“Stagger your reloads! Keep firing!”

“Sir! There's still more coming!” Rolo advised while still laying down as much LMG fire as possible, “I can't stop to reload at a time like this!”

“Keep firing Rolo! I want a damned bullet wall on that door! Tony you too!”

“Right! Rolo you reload! I'll keep the door suppressed!” I kept up my bursts of fire into the doorway. They piled up dead and were actually using the bodies of their fallen as cover. That was until the Chryssalids arrived, “Oh crap! We got more Chryssalids!”

“Don't let them get near those bodies!” Flytrap yelled to all of us as he shot on, “I need more ammo!”

“Here! Use it!” I tossed him more magazines of pistol ammo and Rolo finally reloaded his machine gun.

“Good to go sir!”

“Does anyone have any explosives left?!”

“Negative sir! All spent!” Dawn Shy switched out the magazine on his SMG, “They're coming closer!”

“Too late! One of them got a body! Oh my Luna!” Rolo watched as one of the dead bodies rose up and shambled to us, “We've got zombies!”

“Puzzle! Shoot them in the head!”

“I'm trying!” one shot from Puzzle, missed, “This bolt action isn't fast enough!”

A Chryssalid took a swipe at Puzzle and pierced right into his armor like it was butter. Buster tackled the beast to the floor and finished it with two shots from this scattergun.

“PUZZLE!”

“I think I'm gonna be sick,” it was clear that he was nauseous and poisoned by the creature. The deep puncture wound on his side was nothing to sneeze at either. I still concentrated my fire at the doorway with the mass of bugs and zombified humans coming through. Sky Buster threw Puzzle onto his back and signaled to all of us.

“FALL BACK! EVERYONE FALL BACK! ABORT THE MISSION!” He yelled through the fire and smoke and galloped to the door, “Go! Tony you take Puzzle! Get back outside and beam back to the ship from the infil point!”

“Sir! What about-”

“Just go Tony! Go!” he pushed me away and shot back at the lightning fast insects. I ran and ran for my life. Past the mess hall, past the courtyard, and past the lobby to the entrance of the prison. I took one look back and heard the click of an empty shotgun. I had to go back for him. I didn't want my brother in arms to die.

“Sky Buster!” I yelled in zealous fury as I gunned down a Chyrssalid about to impale him. Sky got back up and pushed me on.

“No! Go dammit! Don't stop for me!” we both saw it. More of them scurried into the building, a whole swarm of them all ravenous and hungry with slimy mouths that oozed saliva. With a swift buck I felt my weight kicked back into the open and my transponder was beeping. I was shocked and looked back at my commander and friend as I turned into energy and phased through the one abomination about to strike at me. He looked at me with a deep sorrow in his eyes and a gaze that told me: “Take care of her...” In that instant the last thing I saw before I was beamed up were those insects piling onto him to feast.

Seconds later I was in the hull of our spacecraft. I couldn't breath, I couldn't speak. I wanted to cry but I couldn't. My whole body was shaking and I saw everyone turn their attention to me. My wife was the first to whimper.

“Where's S-Sky?” she could read my expression and was already sobbing. I didn't say a word and froze in place, “N-No!”

“You mean... H-He's-” Puzzle limped to me.

“Dead,” as I uttered the word my legs gave out from under me and I collapsed to the floor. What was once frozen panic turned into deep and grieving sobs that filled the empty metallic hull of the ship. Tears pooled on my face as I lay on the ground immobilized by the death of one of my best friends. Sky... was dead. We all hung our heads low and let the tears fall. I gathered around them and we all wept into each others shoulders.

“Big Sky! You guys okay?” the subspace transmission from New Ponyville came over the radio. We sat there in silence, “Big Sky! Do you read Big Sky?”

I was hesitant to leave the group and slowly brought the radio to my mouth, “This is Major Antony Canon... Mission failed. Big Sky is coming home minus one commander.”